FAA Administrator on ADS-B Billing: ‘That’s Not the Intended Use’

Bedford says the agency would object if airport charge methods push pilots to turn off safety-critical equipment.

Ryan Ewing

Thursday, April 23, 2026 at 07:00 AM ET

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Edited By:

Travis Tingle

FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford [Credit: FAA]

Key Takeaways:

FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford warned that using ADS-B data for airport landing fees is "crossing a line" if it encourages pilots to disable this critical safety equipment to avoid charges.
Bedford emphasized that ADS-B is a vital safety tool, and its use for revenue collection that undermines safety is not its intended purpose.
The growing controversy, impacting over 100 airports, has led general aviation groups like AOPA and state lawmakers to advocate against using ADS-B data for fee collection.

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FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said the agency is closely watching the growing controversy over airport landing fees and warned that the use of ADS-B data in ways that could encourage pilots to disable safety equipment crosses a line for regulators.

In an exclusive interview with FLYING ahead of the magazine’s Ultimate Issue, Bedford said airports are generally permitted to charge for services but added that “how they go about that matters” and “how they assess the fees” does as well.